Ryan Gosling’s ‘The Gray Man’: Critics Were Wrong, Audiences Love It

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  • ‘The Gray Man’ Is a Fun Popcorn Movie

    • And That’s Not a Bad Thing
  • Audiences Love ‘The Gray Man’s Entertaining Cast

    • But Critics Can’t Get Over the Action Tropes

In 2022, “The Gray Man” – an action-packed thriller directed by the Russo brothers – premiered on Netflix. The film features Ryan Gosling as Sierra Six, a skilled assassin from the CIA’s top-secret black ops program, codenamed Sierra. Unlike other programs in U.S. agencies, Sierra Six’s position is in a grey area (hence the movie’s title). He can operate within the U.S., but any mistake could leave him on his own. Donald Fitzroy (played by Billy Bob Thornton) recruited Six while he was serving time for avenging his abusive father’s death as a minor. Despite being the program’s standout asset, Six is not universally admired within the CIA, especially by a corrupt official named Denny Carmichael (Regé-Jean Page).

In the scenario where a mission backfires and Six uncovers Carmichael’s shady transactions, Six is compelled to vanish from public sight as an international manhunt unfolds. Packed with thrilling action and ample wit, The Gray Man quickly climbed to the summit of Netflix’s most-watched films and continues to be one of the platform’s most viewed titles. However, upon its debut, Ryan Gosling’s action movie received less than stellar reviews from critics. In truth, the film was greeted with rather underwhelming criticisms upon its release. With a Tomatometer score of 45% and a Popcornmeter score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, it appears that opinions among critics and viewers differ significantly regarding this movie. Nevertheless, an audience rating of 90% is relatively high for such a film, but it doesn’t necessarily validate the critics’ criticisms either.

‘The Gray Man’ Is a Fun Popcorn Movie

And That’s Not a Bad Thing

In the realm of action movies, their primary objective is to keep viewers engaged and entertained – and that’s exactly what The Gray Man delivers. It’s a delightful, unpretentious blockbuster that manages to maintain an air of levity even amidst its brief forays into gravity-defying situations. Unlike the deeply introspective characters found in films like 2020’s Extraction and its 2023 sequel, penned by Joe Russo, the protagonist of The Gray Man, known as Six, doesn’t dwell on his troubled past. While he does have a harrowing history, it surprisingly doesn’t hinder his current predicament but instead adds to his enigmatic charm.

Instead of being a hard-edged action movie, “The Gray Man” offers a more stylish and entertaining experience – and that’s not a bad thing at all! This unique approach drew viewers immediately upon its release on Netflix. The storyline may not be overly complex, but its simplicity makes it perfect for a relaxing movie night. Despite receiving a high 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter, which is impressive for such a film, the audience’s affection for it is easily understood, even if critics had differing opinions. Sometimes, all a movie needs to be is enjoyable, and that’s not a bad thing at all. With an impressive cast like “The Gray Man” boasts, it’s no surprise that the film remains one of Netflix’s most-watched titles.

Audiences Love ‘The Gray Man’s Entertaining Cast

But Critics Can’t Get Over the Action Tropes

One of the standout features of The Gray Man is its lively ensemble of actors, with Ryan Gosling leading the charge, making it a promising pick already. Adding Chris Evans and Billy Bob Thornton into the fray only adds to their charisma and comedic flair on-screen. Nevertheless, some critics found themselves disappointed due to an abundance of action cliches, which they felt gave the movie a somewhat tired feel. Yet, it’s important to note that The Gray Man doesn’t aim to break new ground in the action genre; instead, it offers what viewers can expect from the surface-level experience.

In The Gray Man, some scenes might seem quite unbelievable, but isn’t that common in most action films? This doesn’t make the movie poor quality. The Russo brothers didn’t strive to create a realistic and hard-hitting action thriller; instead, their focus was on crafting an enjoyable, visually appealing action film. The movie’s outstanding cast effectively blends thrilling action scenes with humor, creating an experience that appeals to audiences.

Despite some criticisms, The Gray Man didn’t resonate much with critics due to its heavy reliance on common action cliches, which left them feeling quite unimpressed. Contrasting with the opinions of viewers, the film garnered a Tomatometer score of 45%. However, the impressive cast and the movie’s ability to deliver a fun, popcorn-worthy experience might have contributed to audiences rating it slightly higher. It’s essential to remember that sometimes, people just want an entertaining action flick without delving too deep into complex themes. As of now, you can stream The Gray Man on Netflix.

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2025-02-23 02:32